Kali's Story: Support from the Arkansas National Guard

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - THV 11 is learning about more support for Kali's family that's coming from the Arkansas National Guard.

The Arkansas National Guard is showing its support partly through a photo THV 11 saw on the special Facebook page for Kali. The picture shows her father's unit in Kuwait where Sgt. Joseph Hardig recently came home from to be with his family.

The 449th Aviation Support Battalion stationed in Kuwait is now also a part of "Kali's Krew."

"This is not just his fight, it's our fight, it's personal to us," said Major Eric Ladd, a Brigade Administrative Officer for the 77th Aviation Brigade with the Arkansas National Guard.

Major Eric Ladd knows Kali's father through his service in the Arkansas National Guard. He said that Sgt. Joseph Hardig was recently in Kuwait on a helicopter maintenance crew and that he does the same work at Camp Robinson full-time when he's not deployed.

"He's a fantastic MCO; he lives the Warrior Ethos," Major Ladd said.

Soldiers at Camp Robinson are now doing whatever they can to help Sgt. Hardig get through Kali's battle with parasitic meningitis.

"We definitely took the collections for balloons, cards, flowers, and probably most importantly prayers of support," Major Ladd said.

The Guard is raising emergency funds for the family, too, with the help of other military groups.

"We're over $2,000 right now," Major Ladd said.

Someone even mowed the family's lawn.

"I didn't personally do it, but I know that was taken care of," Major Ladd said.

Sgt. Hardig didn't want to speak on-camera with us for this story, but we did talk with his wife, Traci Hardig.

"They have been supporting him wonderfully, and I think that has meant a lot to him," Hardig said.

She said that picture of his unit in Kuwait, especially struck a chord.

"He just loved that and couldn't believe they made a sign; he thought that was so awesome," Hardig said.